I have a nice pair of Motorola Talkabouts with headsets, and a pair of Cobras. The Cobras were $2 at a garage sale, the Talkabouts were “free” at a garage sale because the people lost the charger (charger and 2 new NiMH battery packs was, I think, $30).

People are ditching the FRS radios because they carry cell phones and think they don’t need them.

In-ear headpieces are nice because nobody else can hear that chirp when you end a transmission.

I also picked up a few in-car CB radios in the same way, but I have not checked them out.

I’ve got some dual band FRS/GMRS radios, Uniden GMR3689-2CK. They work well enough, but no-where near their advertised maximum range, even in clear dry weather over open flat terrain. 36 miles? I’ve never had them work at more than about 4 - 5 miles. OTOH, I have some cheap Cobra FRS radios that I have used out to about the same range, and heard other’s talking from about 15 miles away. (ok, I was on a mountain side at that time looking down/out with direct LOS)

Spend as much or as little time as you like. It's a resource. Get your ticket, and you are legal to transmit on the frequencies, modes, and powers that you are licensed for, even if you never transmit.

Well, I am here for information and help.
I started in 1958 as K4ZKZ, specializing in working DX.
I made it to the ARRL “Top of the Honor Roll” in DXCC.
In the 90s, I took the call of W4EX, an old friend, totally blind since the 50s, but the very top DXCC operator in the world, and builder of very fine 4-1000 amplifiers, as well as able to repair anything, and climb his antenna towers.
His widow asked if I would like to take his call sign.

I have been inactive since leaving the USSA in 2000.
My last business was two-way radio sales and service.

No complaints on my Wouxun kg-uv6d 2M ($110), which I carry when I ride my dirt bike in the mountains (lots of repeaters up there). I'm not licensed, nor had an emergency yet so it has not been used to transmit (0.5 second initial test on family band frequency excluded).

What does one buy while one still can? I have FRS radios of course, but If I was to take up a notch, what should I buy. I know radio people are knee deep into their radios, but If you have one week to go buy a communication platform what would it be? Regards.

What does one buy while one still can? I have FRS radios of course, but If I was to take up a notch, what should I buy. I know radio people are knee deep into their radios, but If you have one week to go buy a communication platform what would it be? Regards.

Even if it was twice it’s $50.00 the UV-5R would be a great radio for value\features\performance. I have the “ Full combo plate” ( 3600 Mah battery, hand mic, MFJ 1717 ant., progamming cable ) and am well pleased with my set up. Even without all the extra’s it is a capable radio system. The standard battery lasts a long time,Fit and finsh rival more expensive radios, the audio and TX is more than good, and the other features ( dual watch ) make one wonder why the Japanese companies are not worried. We’re talking $50-60 here not $100-300+. The radio looks good, construction is very good ( especially the Plus model) and the darn thing just works well. Yeah..., it’s VERY easy to program with the cable and software but do not listen to the whiners about manual programming... just go to YOUTUBE and look at the tutorials.Manual programming CAN BE DONE

If.. as people say ...,the Chinese GOVT. is subsidising Baofeng in order to penetrate the hand held market, I have no problem with that. Heck, we’ve been doing that for decades with US agricultural products to penetrate the world food market . That’s capitalism and just old fashioned business. To see a non-capitalistic country ( China ) practice capitalism is refreshing proof that our model of subsidies is not bad business Why pay more just to support overpriced Japanese radios? Buy two UV-5R’s and enjoy an affordable and competent radio. How can you go wrong for the price?

34
posted on 11/19/2012 8:36:42 PM PST
by Bobalu
(It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)

KB9IBZ here. Been a ham since 1992. Have only used the license in Mongolia from 92-94. 98% of calls were DX! And the pile ups when the conditions were right were phenomenal. Ticket just expired last month. Unfortunately I really don't know the technical aspects the way I hear people talking about them. I have a Tech+ but I was pretty good at memorizing test questions.

I keep threatening on getting back in. Oh, I did operate last year at a field day in the Virginia Beach area. They gave me the "night shift". Nice of them...

36
posted on 11/19/2012 8:39:55 PM PST
by tenger
(It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for. -Will Rogers)

All range claims of over 1/4 mile or so with FRS and a mile or two with GMRS radios using rubber duck antennas are bogus. With a decent “real” antenna fed with low-loss coax mounted 30-40 ft high you could reasonably expect to get 10 mile radius coverage on GMRS with the typical radio. Add a yagi (which you can easily make out of hardware store materials) and yes, 35 mile range is probably possible. The problem with the advertising is, they omit about 90% of what I just said and that just pisses people off. This ain’t rocket science, but it is radio science.

Your FRS/GMRS radios are fine for the purpose you have in mind, in an emergency there will likely be a boatload of them on the air and the potential to form neighborhood nets and segregate traffic by channel is a plus.

But if you’re looking for SECURE digital mode voice communications that would provide similar secure comms to military SINGCARS take a look at: http://www.trisquare.us/

These are 900 mhz frequency hopping spread spectrum radios, meaning their are virtually impervious to eavesdropping and jamming. These radios would serve a different - but vital - role in emergency comms, because they would be immune to the congestion and interference that may easily render FRS/GMRS unusable. Plus, you might want a private and secure channel that could not be monitored by anyone else.

The range of these digital radios is no greater than any other radio of similar power. In fact, Trisquared’s “truth about range” is a good no BS explanation. About $70 a pair.

I guess it is OK to share this on freerepublic, we are all trustworthy patriots that can keep our security concerns secret, and only among ourselves.

I developed a code that I think is unbreakable, I even tried it with a special operations radio operator and he could only roll his eyes when he was totally baffled by it’s complexity.

To use it, the first consonant (or consonant cluster) is moved to the end of the word and an ay is affixed (for example, computer yields omputercay or truancy yields uancytray). The objective is to conceal the meaning of the words from others not familiar with the rules.

With practice, skilled operators can use it to quickly share information, safe from the prying ears of the NSA, and others.

49
posted on 11/19/2012 9:20:34 PM PST
by ansel12
(The only Senate seat GOP pick up was the Palin endorsed Deb Fischers successful run in Nebraska)

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